Research Links

Links for Researching Grade Configuration

NOTE: Links to general information are on this page. For articles and/or research specific to a particular grade configuration, please select the grade configuration on the navigation menu to the left.

• Age Appropriate Schools: How Should Schools be Organized? (PDF) by William S. DeJong, Ph.D., REFP and Joyce Craig, REFP
• Northwest Regional Educational Library's (NWREL) report, Grade Configuration: Who Goes Where? (PDF) July 1997
• CEEP Grade Configuration Research Links-Clearinghouse on Early Education and Parenting, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, has a broad selection of discussion and links about grade configuration.
• NMSA On-Target-National Middle School Association's publication. NMSA's site description: On Target is a free, user-friendly, Web-based resource that provides collections of the most current information in middle level education by topic.
• Grade-Span Configurations by Craig B. Howley. The School Administrator (March 2002).
• Elementary Grade Configuration Report, Frost and McCoy Elementary Schools (December 9, 2003)-includes research-based recommendations of committee.
• Elementary School Grade Span Configuration: New Evidence on Student Achievement, Achievement Equity, and Cost Efficiency by: Kathy Gregg
• The (Limited) Evidence Regarding Effects of Grade-Span Configurations on Academic Achievement: What Rural Educators Should Know. ERIC Digest. by Coladarci, Theodore - Hancock, Julie
• Hopkinton Public Schools, Massachusetts Grade Configuration Study Committee Final Report (PDF) November 1, 2001
• Grade Span Research Roundup by Ron Renchler. Clearinghouse on Educational Policy and Management, College of Education · University of Oregon
• The Education Wonks: The Disapperaring Middle School. This is a blog that discusses K-8 grade configuration.
• The Sixth Grade Conundrum: a Parent's Guide. In depth article about 6th graders and the challenges for children during that year.
• Pieces of the Puzzle: Answering Middle School Critics. A listserv discussion around middle schools.